How to Increase Concentration
Have you ever left the house without your mobile phone and had a mini panic attack? Me too. I could leave my lunch at home and go without, but if the iPhone is on the counter and not in my bag I am turning around.
The Road Ahead or The Road Behind
Sometimes I think the fates must grin as we denounce them and insist,
The only reason we can’t win is the fates themselves have missed.
Yet, there lives on the ancient claim – we win or lose within ourselves,
The shining trophies on our shelves can never win tomorrow’s game.
The Power of Belief
Belief creates power. Belief has a way of creating the momentum you need to achieve fantastic feats. Abraham Maslow (1908-1970), an American Psychologist who many sport psychology students credit as a huge influence in their studies once said,
How to Create Confidence on Game Day
Faith and fear have one thing in common: they both believe in a future that has not yet happened.
With faith, we have confidence in our ability and/or our preparation. Having faith in our future gives us energy and creates excitement for what is coming.
With fear, there is an absence of confidence, which is the result of a lack of preparation, or a belief that our preparation was not enough.
The Art of Yelling in Youth Sports
Kids are not mini adults and for that reason we cannot assume they have the emotional experience or maturity to understand what is going on during intense moments. Sure, some kids are more emotionally mature than others, but there is a limit to how much they can possibly know for the sheer fact they have not been alive long enough to know what an adult knows. To add to that, it is unfair for a parent to expect a child to have control of their emotions if the parent cannot control their own emotions. So if you find yourself yelling at the ref during a game, don’t be shocked when your child gets thrown out for yelling at a ref. You taught them how to do that. Stings a little, doesn’t it? Deal with it.
Three Rules to Being a Great Athlete
On Sunday, March 9th of last year, I cried for a few hours. A man passed away unexpectedly doing what he loved most- proudly coaching his daughter to the finish line at what would be his final swim meet.
Changing the Game Project
This week I would like to defer to my friend John O’Sullivan, founder of ChangingTheGameProject.com . You may have seen him in a TedTalk from a few years ago speaking about the importance of youth sports and how to make it a fun experience for kids. There is a really funny commercial at minute 6:11 that reverses the typical conversation between an overbearing father and a youth athlete. Ever wonder what it would be like if kids showed up on the golf course and talked to their dad the way some dads talk to their kids? Hilarious.
Mental Toughness, defined
The two questions I get most often are what is mental toughness and how do you develop it? I define mental toughness as being "able to access their talent at the highest level they are capable on a consistent basis regardless of the situation." Let’s break that down.
Five Communication Tips for Coaches
Here are five tips for coaches (and parents) on communicating with your young athlete.
Yes, I do play my favorites
At times I have been accused of playing my favorites. Let me be very clear: Yes, I do play my favorites.
Parental Communication After a Loss
What do you say to a child after they lose a game? Tread lightly.
3 Tips For Creating Sports Confidence
Confidence is not arrogance. Arrogance is an exaggerated belief in one’s ability to perform. Don’t be arrogant. In the movies, the arrogant guy always has a short career because his mouth and lack of preparation writes a check his body can’t cash. Like the fourth firecracker in a 4th of July finale, he was loud and bright for a moment but… what was his name again?
Mental Toughness, defined
What does it mean to be mentally tough? A mentally tough athlete is able to access their talent at the highest level they are capable on a consistent basis regardless of the situation
Sportsmanship is not dead
A few years ago, a senior softball player from Western Oregon named Sara Tucholsy hit her first ever homerun of her career. It was in a playoff game of her final season as a collegiate athlete. In her excitement she missed tagging first base. As she turned around to return to the bag she tore her ACL and fell to the ground. If you have or know a softball player, watch this then send her this clip.
How to Create a Mistake Recovery Routine
Here are two examples on the importance of getting your head in the game from Sunday's game. The first is the Cal Poly pitcher who started the game for the Mustangs fresh off rehabbing from surgery. As I watched him pitch I knew right away he was not ready to be on the mound. It had nothing to do with his form; in fact, he looked very strong as he sauntered up to the mound. He had heat on the ball, so it wasn't his pitching speed.
When should a youth athlete specialize?
When an athlete goes from being the best on the team in one sport to a role player in another sport, they get to learn how to deal with adversity. Adversity and learning new skills develops mental toughness. When they go back to their primary sport where they are the best, they are a better leader because they had to become a follower. This skill translates very well in the adult world.
How to Develop Mental Toughness in an Athlete
How does one develop mental toughness? As a sport and performance consultant I get asked this often. To answer, let's start with defining what it means. The short definition is: One's ability to perform at a high level under adversity. However, it isn't that simple.
